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Guest Blogging : Quaint Tea

February 12, 2009

I am playing hooky today... Well, not really, but I am getting pudding brains this close to deadline and I need all the extra bit of time I can find. After coming to the conclusion that sleep is highly overrated and lunch has been replaced by a cup of soup and a piece of toast in one hand, whisk and camera in the other, (yes, I am also amazed of my newfound dexterity!), I asked one of my favorite bloggers to come and keep you company. I discovered Cindy in one of my late night blog hopping and I instantly fell in love with hers inventive crafts, thoughtful posts and awesome pictures of New York. When I ask someone to guest blog I always tell them to do what they please and have fun. Cindy went beyond the call of duty and baked you something tasty, comforting and perfect for a little Valentine's day breakfast. I guess I am in love mode after all! I hope you'll show Cindy the same enthusiasm and support you show me day after day. Enjoy!

Hi Everyone - I'm Cindy from quaint handmade and was so honored when Helen asked me to be a guest blogger here on Tartelette. It wasn't a task to be undertaken lightly as she is an award-winning blogger. As you know, Tartelette is a serious baking destination featuring fantastic recipes all beautifully photographed. I'm not a prolific baker by any stretch of the imagination, but have been known to knock around some pots and pans in the kitchen from time to time. And, since I've been a collector of all things English for years, I thought I would write about a Sweet Tea, which would be lovely for Valentine's Day.

Now, this is a special post for a special lady and her devoted readers, so I pulled out all the stops and feature tasty delights you might want to enjoy on a special day. But, it doesn't have to be fancy. Most of the food can be found in the local market, online, or in your cupboard. I also included a simple scone recipe for a homemade touch. First up, it's time to go shopping!

Tea & CoffeeI've been coveting tea from Harney & Sons for a while now and chose their Paris blend. It's a black tea with a lovely fruity fragrance. True tea aficionados might prefer a loose tea, but I thought the sachets were pretty. As the flavors in our sweets are delicate, a subtle Jasmine Tea from Twinings or Kusmi would also be wonderful. My husband likes tea, but loves coffee. We've recently discovered Stumptown Coffee and it has a rich, smooth flavor that would also be a nice alternative.

Butter & JamNext up, jam to go with our scones. I've loved the preserves from Sarabeth's for years and chose the Raspberry Orange Marmalade I found in our local market. Conserves from Wilkin & Sons are also delicious as are the jams from Bonne Mamon. Be sure to have some delicious butter on hand, too.

Cookies & MarshmallowsWe are lucky to live in NYC and can purchase delicious treats from Whimsy & Spice in the warm weather at a market in Brooklyn. But, it's winter so I ordered their Herbs & Spices Gift Box online. The assortment is filled with goodness and includes Honey Lavender and Chocolate Orange Cardamom shortbread cookies, Cardamom marshmallows (so fragrant), Coconut White Chocolate 5 Spice cookies, and the most intriguing, Rose & Black Pepper Thumbprints (subtle). All of the flavors are delicate and light.

Taking Tea At The SavoyI learned about the book Taking Tea At The Savoy when the author, Anton Edelman, from the Savoy Hotel appeared on Martha Stewart's original television show. He was quite impressed with her ability to make a proper cup of tea and became a little bit flirtatious. It was kind of funny to see Martha under those circumstances. It's a wonderful book with a variety of traditional English tea recipes.

Homemade SconesI wanted to make something for our tea and scones are traditional. This recipe is simple enough, but doesn't mention salt, so I added a pinch. I also added more flour as the dough was quite sticky.

PreparationI am a newbie photographer and have learned so much from Helen. However, ever since picking up the camera, I've become a little bit impatient as a cook. I am absolutely amazed by the ladies who bake and take photos along the way. I do try to assemble the ingredients and tools I need in advance to at least capture the beginning and the end, although I made an extra effort for this post to get the middle, too.

Resting before bakingMy round pastry cutter seemed to be in hiding and after trying a few alternatives, I used a heart. I hope it was divine intervention from cupid because I'm so happy they were in heart shapes and perfect for a Valentine's Day Sweet Tea.

Baked and coolingOut of the oven and cooling on a wire rack. I think the egg wash helped identify them as hearts since the dough rose quite a bit thanks to a box of fresh baking powder.

Beautiful messYou should have seen our kitchen after I made the scones! I think there was too much mess for such a simple recipe. The other side of room, which is three feet away, was worse. As I mentioned, the dough was quite sticky so there was flour everywhere, including places it shouldn't be ;).

AssemblingAt this point, I'm just about ready to pull it all together. I've selected some pieces from our English china collection and the double tiered cake stand is the star. I've polished the silver and endlessly fussed with the arrangement.

Sugar CubesMy husband Scott went for a walk and to pick-up my one missing item - sugar cubes. I didn't ask him to come right back because I wasn't expecting to be ready that day in terms of choosing the china. By now, I really have to photograph the Sweet Tea, or I'll have to disassemble everything, and start all over again the next day. Plus, those cookies are so fragrant and look delicious.

TeatimeFinally, everything is arranged and it's time for tea + coffee! Thank you for your hospitality everyone. One lump or two?

Thats a beautiful post Cindy & how wonderful to meet a talented blogger like you at Helens'. I love your attention to detail, how you've fussed over the table, each part of this layout, & the very English china you possess...enviable collection!! I'm glad the round cutter got lost...these heart shaped scones are precious!! :0) Deeba

That's one cool blog you have Cindy! Love the setting up for the tea! :) I'm too, like you (probably worst)...I can't bake and photograph at the same time, cos' usually I'll be interrupted by my two monkeys (http://my-2-little-monkeys.blogspot.com/) --- don't get me wrong, I love them dearly, just that they tend to interrupt when I am busiest! So for right now, I can only photograph the outcome of whatever I cook/bake. One lump please! ;)

Hi Cindy, right from the start to the end you held my attention. I loved the way you gathered the things, put them together and invited us over to tea. The Chinaware looks very pretty and...a lump for me please:) Thank you!!

Helen, thanks for introducing me to another lovely blogger, and wish you lots of luck and loads of energy!!

I love your "English" display, so pretty. Being English I think it's such a shame that I don't know any English person who has ever served me tea like this, normally in a Mug with a teabag (no teapot). Such a shame, I'd much rather come for tea with you! so lovely!

Yum. I make scones almost every weekend, to have with tea. I have a tea cupboard, I have so much tea. Paris is my favorite from Harney & Sons, but my favorite tea is the Granville Island Blend from the Granville Island tea Company (good enough that I pay the international shipping for it!!). I prefer cream scones, the ones just with cold butter and cream, and my husband prefers the texture of scones with eggs in them. So we go back and forth.

I love this! What a thoughtful and sweet post. Perfect for Valentine's Day. I've always wished Americans had tea time, and this shows me how much fun creating my own setup can be. Thanks for sharing, everything looks wonderful!

Wow! You have great instinct for wonderful guest posters Tartelette. I love how detailed and thoughtful this post is, much like the English tea time! My favorite teas are from Marriage Freres and I always try to get my old roomie to send me some.

I LOVE this. I spent most of this past summer sitting in Tea and Sympathy here in New York eating (and drinking) cream tea. And I have to say that I adore Martha in flirtatious mode...it absolutely cracks me up.

thank you all for your wonderful comments and stories. i can't even tell you how nervous i was about this post.jenny - i will look up the tea you mentioned, it's new to me. i love how you are your husband have dueling scones.dana - i love the strawberry rhubarb jam, too. let's have both!botany's desire - great!laura - i've never been to tea and sympathy, but must go.xo, cindy

What a lovely spread of tea treats! I'd have to say that you have done a terrific job of assembling and photographing. Helen taught you well! I would love to have been there for that tea! So nice to meet you, Cindy :)

what a wonderful guest blogger:) the images are beautiful and the goodies look delicious! You have inspired me to take out my "good" tea cups...they hibernate in the back of one of my cabinets and they are so lovely that I'm sure they would make my tea and desserts taste better. :)

Beautifully done Cindy! I can imagine the work that went into creating this post.

I don't know how foodies do it. Never mind that for me, cooking is a huge challenge in itself, but to then photograph it along the way and have everything come out looking so scrumptious!??! I'm so impressed that you were able to pull it off so perfectly. xo ~Suzanne